Sadar Hills renews dist demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 26 2015:
Renewing the decades old demand for upgrading Sadar Hills to a full fledged district, a protest demonstration was staged today at the office of Autonomous District Council, Kangpokpi.
Among others, the protest demonstration was participated by Sadar Hills ADC Chairman Haokholal Hangshing, executive members of the ADC, MDCs, members of Kangpokpi Bazar Committee and leaders of several civil society organisations.
They put up placards which read, "We demand Sadar Hills as a full fledged hill district", "Declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged hill district on or before October 31, 2015", "Implement State Cabinet decision of agenda No 17 as taken on 10th January 2000", Stop step-motherly treatment as we have suffered enough for the last four decades" .
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Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest demonstration, Sadar ADC Vice-Chairman Thangkam Misao lamented that the people's long standing demand to upgrade Sadar Hills as full fledged district still remains unfulfilled.
In case Sadar Hills is not declared as a full fledged district by October 31, Members of Sadar Hills ADC would be constrained to adopt a 'concrete' decision.
The population of Sadar Hills has now reached 1.93 lakh and it is comparable with the populations of other hill districts.
With three sub-divisions and three Assembly segments, Sadar Hills has all the elements required to become a full fledged district.
An Act passed by the Parliament in 1972 envisaged to create six hill districts and Sadar Hills was one of them.
Out of the six hill districts envisaged by the Parliamentary Act, five were declared full fledged districts while Sadar Hills was left out, Thangkam Misao said.
Creation of Sadar Hills district does not pose any challenge to the territorial integrity of Manipur.
At the same, there were many instances where MoUs were signed with the Government regarding declaration of Sadar Hills as a full fledged district.
The Government should have a clear about the possible decision that may be adopted by Sadar Hills MDCs in case the people's long standing demand is still kept pending, Thangkam Misao said.
Sadar Hills ADC Executive Member Lunthang Haokip said that ex-Chief Minister Rishang Keishing assured in 1982 to declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged district after boundary re-arrangement.
Again reminding about a State Cabinet decision adopted on January 10, 2000, Lunthang urged the Government to declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged district by October 31 .
Bhumi Prasad Basnet, another Executive Member decried the Government's reluctance to declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged district.